Electric hybrids take center stage on opening of Detroit auto show

Global Business

After a record year for U.S. car sales, the mood at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show is one of celebration. Car makers clocked sales of 17.5 million vehicles in 2015, helped by America’s easy credit, improved economic growth, and a huge drop in gas prices.

CCTV America’s Nick Harper reports.

The next generation of vehicles in trying to take the shine off the gas guzzlers. This year the big push is on plug-ins, or electric hybrid vehicles. General Motors is touting its new Chevrolet Bolt as the car of the future, with some impressive credentials.

But that means the American mind-set needs to shift gear. For consumers, combustion engines, filling up at the pumps, low gas prices – those are known quantities. Change can be difficult and that makes the new technology a harder sell.

Volkswagen, meanwhile, is using the show to shake off the scandal of its emissions cheating scheme.

“We all know that we have let down customers, authorities, regulators, and the general public here in America, too. We are, I am, truly sorry for that. And I would like to apologize once again for what went wrong with Volkswagen,” Volkswagen CEO Matthias Mueller said.

Those mistakes could cost the company $48 billion in fines in the U.S. alone. VW hopes this show will help to close the door on this recent chapter